Upcoming Drinking Water-Related Regulations

Regulations in Process or Planned

• Revised Total Coliform Rule: The draft regulation package is being prepared.  Follow this link for the draft revised total coliform regulation and more information about how to comply with the current State and Federal requirements.
• Lead and Copper Rule: Draft regulation packages are being prepared for the State and Federal Lead and Copper Rules.  Follow this link for more information about the Lead and Copper Rule.
• Cross Connection Regulations: Work on updating these regulations via development of a Policy Handbook is underway pursuant to Assembly Bill 1671 - http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB1671. The State Water Board will be seeking formal comment on the Draft Policy Handbook from the public, stakeholders and interested parties. Pursuant to AB 1671, two Public Hearings are required on the Draft Policy Handbook prior to consideration for adoption by the Board.
  
  In addition to the formal Public Hearings, we are holding a stakeholders workshop in advance of the publishing of the Draft Policy Handbook as follows:
  • Stakeholder Workshop: Thursday, February 20, 2020, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM;
    Sierra Hearing Room, Second Floor of the CalEPA Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento 95812
    Webcast available at: https://video.calepa.ca.gov/
  Additional information and an agenda will be posted prior to the workshop. If you have any comments or questions, please send them to the Regulatory Development Unit at: DDWRegUnit@waterboards.ca.gov
  
  The current Title 17 California Code of Regulations are available at https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/Lawbook.html
  
  At the workshop, the State Water Board is particularly interested in comments and suggestions on:
  1. Aspects of the current Cross-connection regulations that should be strengthened and revised to improve protection of public health
  2. Aspects of the current Cross-connection regulations that would provide public water systems with additional guidance, direction and/or authority to implement the program
  3. Suggestions for updating Table 1 in Section 7604 of Title 17 (current regulations) which establishes the minimum type of backflow protection required under various scenarios.
  4. Options for Regulatory Oversight/Accreditation of organizations that provide certifications of backflow device testers and specialists
  5. Options to address the provisions of Assembly Bill 1080 (2018) which require that the Policy Handbook include provisions for the use of a swivel or changeover device to supply potable water to a dual-plumbed system during an interruption in recycled water service. Title 22 currently requires an air-gap for this purpose.

Other Active Projects Related to Development or Review of Regulations

• Review of the Perchlorate Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The review of the perchlorate MCL has been completed to determine whether it should be revised in response to the 2015 public health goal (PHG). For a summary of the review and more about perchlorate, follow this link.
• Microplastics: Senate Bill No. 1422 (filed on September 28, 2018) requires the State Water Board to adopt a definition of microplastics in drinking water on or before July 1, 2020, and on or before July 1, 2021, to adopt a standard testing methodology for microplastics and requirements for four years of testing and reporting, including public disclosure of results. Follow this link for more information about microplastics.
• MCL Review: To meet requirements of the Health and Safety Code Section 116365(g), each year the State Water Board identifies the MCLs it intends to review. Follow this link for a summary of the most recent review.
• Direct Potable Reuse: The report to the Legislature regarding the feasibility of developing Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) criteria was submitted in December 2016. Work continues on DPR.  Follow this link for more information about Direct Potable Reuse.

Other Regulations of Interest

• Recycled Water Regulations: Follow this link for more information about the DDW's activities related to recycled water.
• Drinking Water Program Fees: Follow this link for more information.
• ELAP Regulations: Public drinking water systems must utilize accredited laboratories for water analyses. Follow this link for more information about regulations for the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program.

Upcoming Federal Rules

• Drinking Water-Related Regulations (from U.S. EPA)

Other Information

• Division of Drinking Water
• Information for Public Water Systems
• Recently Adopted Regulations
• Drinking Water-Related Statutes and Regulations (Lawbooks)

Contact Information

• Melissa Hall, P.E.
  Senior Water Resource Control Engineer
  (916) 323-0373
  Melissa.Hall@waterboards.ca.gov
• Mark Bartson, P.E.
  Supervising Sanitary Engineer
  (916) 449-5622
  Mark.Bartson@waterboards.ca.gov

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  (Page last updated 12/5/19)